Feathers and plants

[eiry]

sorry delete*

[HeathBar]

I've never seen anything from the Lyon Court that authorises a clan society president to wear feathers in their bonnet. The following leaflet explains the custom:

http://www.scotarmigers.net/pdfs/info-leaflet-2.pdf



I'd like to see a statement from the Duke of Buccleuch regarding this claim, or if the Lord Lyon recognises it. Again, I've never heard of such a practice before.

Respectfully,

Todd

Within Clan Barclay International, we have a person who is the Commisioner to the Chief. This person is appointed by the chief to be his representative in his absence. I was recently looking an issue of our newsletter from 2003, when I spotted this:

"This honor is awarded at the chief’s pleasure every five years and the appointment is
registered in the books of the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. Along with the honor of
representing the clan chief, Barkley is granted permission to fly a pincel signifying his office
and to wear two feathers in his bonnet denoting this unique honor."

I'll see if I can get more details. If its done every five years, I'll see if I can find the re-instatement that took place in 2008. In 2003, this person was the president of the society. Today, he only holds the commissioner to the chief title. But they do take this seriously.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Many clans/families/names will have affiliations with other clans (where they are sometimes considerd a "sept" - though this is more of an Irish term and not exactly appropriate for families that are considered members of larger clans).

Clan means "children" and "sept" means family. Generally speaking the word "clan" is sometimes used to refer to those who bear the same surname as their chief, while the word "sept" indicates those who bear a different surname, but are still considered part of the overall clan. All are considered to be equally members of their clan whatever their surname.

The term "sept" is completely correct in Scottish usage, and anyone who doubts this is referred to The Clans Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands by Frank Adams, as revised by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon, which covers this distinction in great detail.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

What is this "My Clan" rubbish. Please by all means wear the kilt but can we stop this pretending that you are an 17th century scottish highlander.

wear it plain, it looks better

What you have chosen to characterize as "rubbish", many on this forum consider to be family heritage. Perhaps you would care to apologize to those you have just insulted?

[eiry]

Clan means "children" and "sept" means family. The term "sept" is completely correct in Scottish usage, any anyone who doubts this is referred to The Clans Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands by Frank Adams, as revised by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon which covers tis distinction in great detail.

Generally speaking the word "clan" is used to refer to those who bear the same surname as their chief, while he word "sept" indicates those who bear a different surname, but are considered part of the overall clan. All are considered to be equally members of their clan whatever their surname.

Its not your name that makes you part of a clan, it is living, providing and contributing to your peers in the same community under the protection of a clan chief.

[Bugbear]

Though my tartan is not a clan tartan, I second the post of MacMillan of Rathdown, and add that the Black Watch and other tartans with meaning should not be insulted.

[macwilkin]

Within Clan Barclay International, we have a person who is the Commisioner to the Chief. This person is appointed by the chief to be his representative in his absence. I was recently looking an issue of our newsletter from 2003, when I spotted this:

"This honor is awarded at the chief’s pleasure every five years and the appointment is
registered in the books of the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. Along with the honor of
representing the clan chief, Barkley is granted permission to fly a pincel signifying his office
and to wear two feathers in his bonnet denoting this unique honor."

I'll see if I can get more details. If its done every five years, I'll see if I can find the re-instatement that took place in 2008. In 2003, this person was the president of the society. Today, he only holds the commissioner to the chief title. But they do take this seriously.

I've heard of the tradition of flying the pinsel before:

http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/flyingherald2.html

http://www.fraserchief.co.uk/heraldry.html

Regards,

Todd

[gilmore]

Ok thanks guys, thats clears it up for me. I love the idea of the state flower. Georgia's state flower is the Cherokee rose so that might look good behind a cap badge.

I always thought it was kudzu....

[macwilkin]

I always thought it was kudzu....

Kudzu, otherwise known as "instant ghillie suit".

T.

[gilmore]

I like the suggestion of the state flower. Might have to go find a wild rose for Iowa...

T.

All very well and good, except for the poor Kansans, whose state flower is the sunflower. They would get crooked necks from wearing it.